MOVIE REVIEW: 'Pain & Gain' will pump you up

This dark, loopy Keystone Krooks comedy has nothing to do with director Michael Bay and everything to do with Mark Wahlberg’s buffed-up portrayal of a bodybuilder whose biceps outsize his cranium.

By Al Alexander

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Al Alexander

Posted Apr. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 26, 2013 at 1:14 AM

By Al Alexander

Posted Apr. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 26, 2013 at 1:14 AM

» Social News

Muscle is no match for brains in the smartly stupid heist flick “Pain & Gain.” That it comes from Michael Bay could well be its greatest asset – and its biggest liability, depending on how you feel about the “Transformers” director. Personally, I can barely respect the guy, which makes it all the harder to admit that for once in his life he’s delivered a surefire winner. But as long as we’re being honest, it’s imperative to note that the success of his dark, loopy Keystone Krooks comedy has nothing to do with Bay and everything to do with Mark Wahlberg’s buffed-up portrayal of a bodybuilder whose biceps outsize his cranium.

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It’s truly a performance on steroids, as the Pride of Dorchester shocks and charms with equal flare playing Daniel Lugo, a South Coast trainer intent on achieving the America dream – by any means necessary. Adhering to the “be a doer, not a don’t-er” philosophy laid out by his self-help mentor, Jonny Wu (a hilarious Ken Jeong), Daniel initially takes the legit route, helping Miami’s rich and famous get into shape at the luxurious Sun Gym. But when he fails to score with the money honeys, he takes more drastic measures by conspiring with equally buff co-workers, Adrian (Anthony Mackie) and Paul (Dwayne Johnson) to kidnap Victor, an obnoxious and obnoxiously rich client played to pure comedic genius by Tony Shalhoub.

In carrying out the crime, the boys of course must deal with the law – Murphy’s Law, which ominously states that whatever can go wrong WILL go wrong. But lucky for them and unfortunate for bound-and-tasered Victor, the Miami police are even bigger klutzes. Oh, did I mention that this is a true story? But the more ridiculous the events grow, the less you believe, which perhaps explains why Bay periodically slips in written reminders noting that what we’re seeing is still stupefying factual. You can check it online. And that holds right through to the end, when murder and a sly private detective (Ed Harris at his best) happen upon the scene.

As silly as matters grow, it’s a credit to scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely that they insist on playing it straight, letting the bumbling and stumbling speak loudly for itself. While the film is seldom laugh-out-loud funny, it is consistently amusing, infinitely clever and hugely entertaining. It also just might be the first time Bay has ever made a movie sans fireballs and huge explosions. That is unless you count the explosion of talent by a superb cast that also includes red-hot Rebel Wilson as the full-figured medical assistant Adrian falls for when he seeks help for his steroid-induced erectile dysfunction, and Weymouth’s Rob Corddry as the lax proprietor of Sun Gym, where the dumbbells come out to play.

Page 2 of 2 - Bay, getting in touch with his inner-Soderbergh, wisely steps back and lets his amazing cast work their magic, whether it be in the gym, the sex-toy warehouse where Victor is tortured and held prisoner, or the gorgeous seaside bungalows that Daniel longs to call home. But by far his greatest move is the hiring of Wahlberg to lead us on this incredible journey of sublime incompetence. His Daniel is selfish, crude and more than a tad inhumane, but Wahlberg is so doggone charming and likable that it’s easy to understand how Victor gets away with what he does for as long as he does – until greed becomes his undoing. Even then, you almost want him to triumph, because darn it, he’s a “doer.” And the muscle and brawn he adds to the well-sculpted “Pain & Gain” can’t help but pump you up.